Apparatus for distilling hydrocarbons



Dec. 14 1926.

M. ROWE APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING HYDROCARBONS Filed Sept. 17 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet l PEE Co/vaf/vsfle E m f E M/LLY R M. ROWE APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING HYDROCARBONS Filed Sept. 1'7 1924 4 SheetsSheet 2 W hw Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

UNITED, STATES MILLY ROWE, 013 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING HYDROGARBONS.

Application filed September 17, 1924. Serial No. 738,254.

This invention relates to apparatus for cracking petroleum hydrocarbons, for con-' verting the same into gasolene, benzine, and heating and lubricating oils.

The object of the invention is to render the process of refining the oils, more expeditious, inexpensive, and more thorough, than the processes heretofore employed.

My invention comprehends heating means in combination with circulating means and condensing means, and means for varying and determining the temperature and pressure of the substances treated, to attain a rapid vaporization and splitting and cracking of the vapors without carbonization, and to utilize a maximum of heat units from the burners and to eliminate the stack waste thereof.

An embodiment of the apparatus for the practice of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings which are essentially diagrammatic in character.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal and sectional view of the primary va'v porizing boiler including a preheating device and the primary or first condenser. Fig. 2 is an endelevation of the primary vaporizing boiler. Fig. 3 is a transverse andvertical section of the primary boiler taken on the line X-"-X of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical and sectional view of the intermediate and final stage boilers. Fig. 5 is an end elevation showing the relative relation of the boilers and condensers. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the piping and connections between 'the respective elements of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, my improved i]. refining apparatus consists of a primary boiler 11, an intermediate boiler 12, and a third boiler 13, for final treatment of the residue from the primary and intermediate boilers, and other necessary parts for feeding the crude oil, for condensing the vapors and gases, and for controlling the operation of the apparatus, as will be hereinafter described.

Within the primary tank or. boiler '11, I provide a longitudinal vapor. tube 14, enclosing a concentric fire chamber or tube 15. The fire tube has an open end 16, in which aburner 17, projects. Valve 18 controls the admission of the fuel to the burner, and valve 19, likewise controls the admission of steam to the burner. The tubular. furnace chamber 15, is provided with an upwardly extending flue 20, provided with an encasing jacket 21. The crude oil or other-substance to be treated is conveyed through a pipe 22, extending from an oil supplytank 23, and connected to a preheating coil 24 within jacket 21. A conduit 25 extends from the preheating coil and into the boiler 11, and then longltudin'ally through the upper part thereof, and is provided with a series of discharge openings 26, through which the preheated material enters the' boiler 11.

A partition element 27, spaced a )art from vapor tube 14, extends within the oiler 11, and serves to disperse the crude oil discharging from conduit 25. The arched central portion 28, of partition 27 is provided with a series of holes 29, and the lower portions each with a series of holes 30. As the oil or fluid adjacent to tube 14, is heated, it rises and flows through the upper holes 29, slightly above the oil level, and then descends by gravity, as in a cascade, on either side of the central arched portion 28, thereby causing a constant circulation of the oil or fluid to be distilled, through holes 30 and into the lower part of the boiler.

The boiler 11 is provided'with a vapor collecting dome 31, within which is a concentric and vertical tube 32, open at its upper end 33, and extending to the horizontal vapor tube 14. The volatile vapors and gases generated within the boiler are collected in dome 31. The dome 31 is provided with perforated plates 34, provided with discharge pipes 35, so that any particles of heavy oil or of carbon, which would be carried by the vapors into tubes 32 and 14, are

'held back and flow down to unite with the liquid content of the boiler.

I attain in this primary boiler, an approximate temperature of 900 F., thus producing vapors and gases which escape through tubes 32*and 14, into a pipe 36, controlled by a valve-37, and whereby the vapors and gases are admitted to condenser 38. This, as

shown by dotted lines and broken away parts in Fig. 2, consists of concentric tubes 39 and 40,forming annular chambers for the circulation of the vapors and a cooling medium. The product of condensation is finally discharged through the central tube 41, controlled by a valve 42.

\Vith this construction having the cracking tubes jacketed around the fire tube or chamber, the material tobe treated is quickly brought to the required condition and temperature for cracking the more volatile portions of the crude oil or material. The residue, together with the less volatile portions of the crude material, are drawn out through the discharge pipe 43, controlled by a valve 44. Water pipes 45 and 46 are provided for circulation of the condensing medium to and from the condenser.

The residue from the primary boiler is conveyed to an intermediate boiler 12. v The discharge ipe 43 is connected with a preheating coil 47, enclosed in a tubular chamber 48. The chamber 48 is heated by admitting steam, generated in an auxiliary boiler 49, and conveyed through a pipe 50, and pipe 51, controlled by valve 52, to chamber 48. Through a branch pipe 53, controlled by' a valve 54, live steam is admitted to an injector member 55, where itenters the oil or substance passing from coil 47,-into a pipe 56, which extends into the furnace chamber 57. The combined steam gases and residue, then circulate through an A series of vertical heating pipes 58, and from thence into the inner tubes 59, of a G series of pipes, and from thence into the pipe 60, discharging into the cascadingchamber 61, of boiler 12. Crude oil, or the substance being treated, is admitted intermittently and from time to time, through an automatically operated priming cock 62, into the residue conduit 43. This prevents coking within the two series A and G of the heating pipes. The oil, as it is delivered into the cascading chamber 61, has attained a heat or temperature of from'1000 to 1100 F., and is treated under a pressure of from 50 to pounds within the cascading chamber. To maintain this temperature within the cascading chamber, I provide a series S, of steam pipes within the furnace chamber 57, and comprising pipes 63'arranged to form a continuous circuit from the auxiliary steam generating boiler 49, to the pipe coil 64 within cascader chamber 61. A partition 65 concentric with the furnace flue 66, encases the coil 64, and is provided with a series of holes 67. The steam, oil and residue discharging within the chamber is forced by the coil 64, to circulate spirally within the casing, and

through the holes 67, whereupon it falls to the bottom, as in a cascade, and then is forced upwardly between the flue and concentric casing 65. i

The gases generated within this cascading chamber, are collected within the dome 68. I provide inclined baflie plates 69 whereby any heavy oil or articles of carbon carried by the vapors an gases, would be deflected back into the bottom of the cascader chamber. The vapors and gases collecting in dome 68, are discharged through a thermostat coil'70, into chamber 71,- and thence into a pipe 72, the discharge being controlled by an automatically operated valve or cock 7 3, actuated by the thermostat coil 70. From pipe 72, the gases .are forced into the outer pipes 74, of series G, and thence to the outer pipes 75, of series A, and thence through a pipe 76, to a condenser 77, which changes the vapors and gases into a liquid condensate yielding when separated, various grades of fuel oils. From the first cascader chamber in the intermediate boiler, the residue is conveyed through the discharge pipe 78, to the outer pipes 7 9, of series L, and thence through pipe 80, into the cascader chamber 81, .of the third stage boiler 13. Within this boiler, I attain a temperature of from 1100 to 1200 F., and from the vapors and gases collected in the dome 82, I obtain a series of lubricating oils and other elements which form the basis of coloring dyes. In detail the cascader chamber 81 is similar to cascader chamber 61, I being provided with a partition member 83, having a series of holes 84, a deflector or baffle member 85, and a coil of pipe 86 which is connected to and receives the superheated steam from coil 64. From the dome 82, the vapors and gases are conducted through pipe 87, to the lubricating oil condenser 88. The delivery being controlled by a valve 89. To hasten the condensation, I provide a steam pipe 90, controlled by a valve 91, by which a portion of the highly superheated steam from the cascader coil 84, is admitted into the vapors and gases prior to their admission into the condenser. A branch steam pipe 92, extending from pipe 90, conveys the remaining portion of the superheated steam to the burners 9? in furnace chamber 57, and to burner 94 in furnace chamber 95. To provide fuel for these burners, I provide fuel oil pipes 96 and 97, extending from the portion 98, of series A pipes. These pipes which admit fuel to the burners are controlled by valves 99 and 100. The residue from the cascader chamber 81, may be withdrawn through pipe 101 and valve 102. This last residue will consist mostly of tar. Valves 103 and 104 control the admission of steam to the burners.

In further details of construction, the eascader chambers 61 and 81, are provided with liquid-level gauges 105 and 106, whereby the level of the fluid contents may 'be determined from time to time. The intermediate and third stage boilers adjoin one another, and the respective series A, S, G, and L, of superheating pipes, extend through the inner partition wall 107, and into both furnace chambers. Any excess of pressure in the cascader chambers 61 and 81, above 200 pounds, is relieved by the relief valves 108 and 109, and the discharge therefrom is conveyed back to the primary boiler through a pipe 110, discharging into the dome of the primary boiler below the baflie plates therein. Pressure gauges 111 and 112 show the pressure within the eascader chambers, and a similar pressure condenser through pipe 121.

gauge 113, is provided for the primary boiler. A checkvalve 114, prevents the residue from the primary boiler from passing into the initial crude oil supply pipe. A pyrometer 115 is connected with the portion of the pipes connecting series A and G, and a similar pyrometer 116 is connected with the discharge pipe entering cascader chamber 81. These attachments enable the operator to determine the condition of the contents of the several boiler units of the still. The admiszion cocks 62 .and 73 are automatically operated by the thermostatic coil 70, actuating the lever 117, and thereby,

the rod 118, connecting the cooks. Cock 62- is normally closed while the still is in operation, and the cock 73 is adjusted for a mini-' mum opening at the same time. When the temperature in cascader chamber 61, tends to rise above a predetermined amount, the valve or cock 73 is opened to a greater degree, tomore quickly discharge the gases, and at the same time, the cock 62 is opened to admit a ortion of the crude and relatively cool Oll into the conveying pipe 43.

The water supply tank 119 is arranged to supply the respective condensers with a condensing medium, the supply entering the first condenser through pipe 45, the second condenser through pipe 120, and the third Through discharge pipes 46, 122 and 123, the cooling medium is conveyed ,from the condensers to a valve 124, through which it is admitted to the initial steam pipe-63, of series A. The object of the several series of circulating pipes for the steam and oil and for the vapors and gases is, first; to attain the requisite temperature for the cracking process, in a minimum of time, and second; to maintain that .temperature until the cracked oils and gases are passed'into the respective condensing tanks. The object of the cascading elements is to produce a thermostatic circulation in the more expanded rtions of the still, and. to prevent deposits and accumulation of carbon-therein. The object of introducing steam into the material to be treated, is for preventing carbon deposits, for accelerating the circulation in the tubes and more constricted parts of the still, and for the successful separation of the fuel oil or more volatile vapors and crude oil into the intermediate boiler, may

be disconnected from the automatic operative parts, and the valve 44 closed. The intermediate boiler may then be utilized for the primary heating of the crude oil or material to be treated.

The burner flame may be supplied by the heated crude oil, or may, through the valve 125, be furnished by the gaseous product of the apparatus. From the primary and intermediate boilers, I obtain vapors producing gasolene and naphtha of different gravity characteristics. To prevent loss of the extremely light hydrocarbons produced by one condensation, I provide a pipe conduit 126 from the first condenser to the second condenser. Through conduit 126, the product of condensation isv taken to the blending valve 127. From the second condenser 77, the product of condensation is taken through conduit 128, to the blending valve 129. The blended product is discharged throu h pipe 130. By blending the different gaso enes immediately after condensation, the lighter hydrocarbons are immediately. fixed and cannot be lost by evap oration.

pressure for-delivery to the apparatus, is produced by the pump 131, or by any other suitable appliance. The liquid follows the path indicated by the dark arrows, through the various series of preheating pipes, until it enters the first cascader chamber, Where it is either disassociated, or vaporized, or transformed into gases, according to the ob- 'ects to be attained. The path then traversed y the gases or transformed material, is indicated "by the light arrows, until a corresponding condenser is reached. 'As indicated, the products of condensation may be blended, or collected separately as desired.

To avoid the use of stacks for the still, I

superhcat the steam for the burners to avery high degree. For this purpose, I ar- This invention is not limited to the precise temperatures or to the pressures setforth, or to the precise construction and arrangement of parts as illustrated, but may be modified in accordance with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an oil refining apparatus, the combination with a shell forming a still, of a. combustion tube extending therein and forming a horizontal furnace chamber, a vapor tube jacketing the combustion tube, a partition member having the greater part thereof concentric with the combustion tube and vapor tube, andhaving passages of communication at its top and sides between the upper and lower portions of the still, a vapor collecting dome extending upwardly from the top of the still, a vertical tube in communication with the horizontal. vapor tube and extending upwardly, and having its open end terminating adjacent to the top of the dome, an inlet tube entering the still above the top level of the oil and extending adjacent to and longitudinally above the partition member and having a series of discharge I openings, and means for preheating the oil before it enters the still.

2. In an oil refining apparatus, a still having a fire chamber, means for producing combustion within the fire chamber, a jacket concentric with the fire chamber and forming therewith a vapor chamber, a partition member having its central portion concentric with the vapor chamber, a dome for the still, and a tube extending within the dome and from the upper part of the concentric jacket, and having its open end communieating with the upper part of the dome.

3. In an oil refining apparatus, a. still hav-- ing a fire chamber, means for producing combustion within the fire chamber, a jacket concentric with the fire chamber, said jacket forming a vapor chamber, a partition member concentric with the vapor chamber. a dome for the still, a tube extending within the dome and from the upper part of the vapor chamber jacket, said tube having its upper end in open communication with the upper part of the dome, and a series of perforatedbafile plates disposed in the dome, and interposed between the body of the still and the open end of the tube extending within the dome.

4. In an oil refining apparatus, the combination with a shell forming a heating tank,

' of a fire tube extending therein and forming a horizontal fire chamber, a vapor tube jacketing the fire chamber, a dome extending upwardly from the heating tank and forming a collecting space for the vapor, a vertical tube having its open end terminating adjacent to the top of the dome, and extending downward to and in communication with the vapor tube jacketing the fire chamber, a

partition member having the greater portion thereof concentric with the vapor tube around the fire chamber and having upper and lower holes arranged to form communication between the upper and lower portions of the heating tank, a flue extending upwardly from the horizontal fire chamber,-

a coil conduit surrounding the flue, a jacket encasing the coil, said coil entering the heating tank above the 011 line and above said partition, a horizontal discharge tube forming a continuation of the coil and extendin longitudinally within the heatin tank an above the partition member an having a series of discharge holes. and means for roducing combustion within the fire cham r.

5. In oil refining apparatus, a shell forming a boiler, a curved partition member disposed in the boiler and forming upper and lower compartments in the boiler, an arched portion forming the center partof the partition member and extending longitudinally relative to the boiler, said partition member having upper and lower series of holes forming a means of communication between the upper and lower compartments, a combustion tube extending longitudinally within the boiler and in the lower compartment, a vapor tube jacketing the combustion tube, .a vertical dome extending upwardly from the boiler and serving to collect the vapors from the upper compartment, a vertical tube in communication with the upper part of the dome and extending downwardly to and in communication with the vapor tube jacketing the fire tube, a series of perforated bafile 1plates disposed in the-dome and interposed tween the upper opening of the vertical tube and the top of the boiler, discharge tubes extending downwardly from the baflie plates and terminating with the upper compartment, and means for producing heat within the combustion chamber.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

MILLY ROWE. 

